Tom Hanks Will Sign (Almost) Anything to Save Village Books

He might have played a big box book retailer in 1998's You've Got Mail, but in real life, actor Tom Hanks is pitching for the little guy, namely Pacific Palisades' Village Books. Local blog Tabloid Baby explains that Hanks is trying to help efforts to save the store by signing books there tonight.

But wait, did he actually author anything? "No, he didn't write a book, but he's showing up at 7 p.m. [tonight] to autograph 'Tom Hanks-related' books and DVDs (the ads make it seem like he'll even autograph your Artie Lange book, which was strange but nice as well). He'll attract cameras and press and it will be a rally to save Village Books." The campaign boasts a Shepard Fairey-styled Hanks-as-Obama HOPE motif, and seems to indicate that despite being a fairly regular local guy in the Palisades, Hanks is willing to use his star power to help an indie out.

The store notes, though: "Merchandise must be purchased at Village Books, and photos or other Tom Hanks items will not be autographed." Fair enough--it is a fundraiser, after all.

Village Books
1049 Swathmore Avenue, Pacific Palisades
(310) 454-4063